Christ Church Cathedral School hits all the right notes with young choristers

Despite increasingly challenging times for choir schools across the UK, Christ Church Cathedral School in central Oxford has celebrated its most successful chorister recruitment event in several years.

A new generation of young singers has been given a taste of life as a cathedral chorister as part of a special experience day celebrating a centuries-old choral tradition.

The event welcomed 24 families, with some travelling from as far afield as Birmingham and London, giving boys aged six to nine the chance to discover what life could be like as part of a world-famous cathedral choir.

The experience comes during a landmark year for the Cathedral Choir, which is celebrating its 500th anniversary. Founded by Henry VIII in 1526, the choir has marked the milestone with a packed programme of events and live radio broadcasts, before heading to New York later this year for a tour that will include a performance at Carnegie Hall.

Today, the choir includes 20 boarding choristers aged eight to 13, alongside its adult singers. The young choristers combine an intensive schedule of cathedral services, broadcasts and international tours with a full school curriculum.

During the experience day, visiting boys took part in singing workshops and team-building craft activities before joining the Evensong service, watched by their families and the regular congregation.

The school also offers three choirs, including opportunities for younger voices to sing with the Worcester and Pembroke College Chapel Choirs. With almost two thirds of its prep boys involved in a choir, choral singing remains a significant part of school life, helping pupils develop confidence alongside their musical skills.

The school says the experience day was particularly special following the recent closure of several choir schools, with the strong turnout highlighting the continued interest in choristership and the opportunities it can offer young people.

Families interested in discovering more about choristership and school life can find out about upcoming open events, nursery Stay & Plays and chorister experience days at cccs.org.uk or by calling 01865 242561.

In partnership with Christ Church Cathedral School

Christ Church Cathedral School is an independent preparatory school for boys in central Oxford, educating pupils aged four to 13. One of the city’s three choral foundation schools, it provides choristers for Christ Church Cathedral, as well as the chapels of Worcester College and Pembroke College. Alongside its strong musical tradition, the school offers a broad education designed to help pupils grow in confidence and thrive both in and beyond the classroom.

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